World War II is raging, but the United States is at
peace on this calm evening of December 6, 1941. It's
just another ordinary Saturday night at Pearl Harbor,
the naval base of the U.S. Pacific fleet on the island
of Oahu, Hawaii. Some of the thousands of soldiers
and sailors stationed at Pearl Harbor have gone ashore
to clubs and parties, while others have gone to Honolulu.
Young families, like U.S. Navy commander Hubert "Dale"
Gano and his wife Margaret "Johnie" Gano, a newlywed couple, are spending
a relaxing evening at home. Dale has served in the
Navy since 1938, and was assigned to Pearl Harbor in
July 1941.

Nearby, at Hickam airfield, an annual charity dance
is in progress. Outside in the darkness, hundreds
of American fighter planes are parked and lined up
in neat rows  a perfect target for an air attack  because
they can be more easily guarded against sabotage. Driving
home from the charity dance, a general and his wife
notice the reflection of thousands of ships' lights
playing on the still water of the harbor. "What
a target they would make!" the general remarks.

At that very moment, 220 miles north of Oahu, dozens
of ships under the command of Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
stand in position, waiting. The sailors and pilots
on board the aircraft carriers are in good spirits,
toasting the Emperor and listening to music. The deck
crews are hard at work making final preparations to
launch hundreds of attack planes at dawn. Their destination:
Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Activity Station
Relations between America and Japan have been strained
for some time. And yet, most Americans are far more
concerned about being drawn into the European conflict
than they are about a possible Japanese attack.
Did Dale and Johnie Gano ever think that their lives
were in danger because they were stationed at Pearl
Harbor? Find out by reading an interview with them.